This London-based woman is running for CM in Bihar elections
On Sunday, International Women's Day, newspapers across Bihar were plastered with advertisements for a new woman-led political party, Plurals. The party vowed to make Bihar the most developed state in the country by 2025 and at par with European countries by 2030. The party was notably floated by one Pushpam Priya Choudhary, based in London, United Kingdom. Here's who she is.
Who is Pushpam Priya Choudhary?
Pushpam Priya Choudhary hails from Bihar's Darbhanga district. According to her website, Choudhary has a Master's degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK. She has another Master's degree in Public Administration from the London School of Economics & Political Science. She is also the daughter of Janata Dal (United) leader Binod Chaudhary.
Why has Choudhary floated a political party?
On her website, Choudhary addresses the issues of continued poverty, malnourishment, illiteracy, and unemployment. She calls out politicians on their apathy and incompetence, illustrating it with the annual affair of Bihar floods. She says, "In 2020, if you think underdevelopment is inevitable, they have succeeded in playing you." She says people cannot afford to remain apolitical anymore, and hence, she has launched Plurals.
'Politicians maintain status quo, get re-elected making same promises'
She says, "For [Bihar's politicians], politics is personal attacks, irrelevant speeches and maintaining the status quo, which means keeping people unemployed, uneducated and poor so that they get re-elected by making the same promises or talking about issues that do not really affect us election-after-election."
Plurals has 'concrete roadmap' for Bihar till 2030
Choudhary plans to contest the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections as the Chief Ministerial candidate. According to her website, her party plans to rid Bihar of hunger and poverty by the year 2030 and offer quality education to all. She urged people to "take a chance" with her. On Twitter, she wrote, "Plurals has a concrete roadmap for 2025 and 2030. Stay tuned for updates."
Plurals claims to be 'Most Progressive Political Party'
Choudhary's party Plurals claims to be neither Right, Left or Center. Plurals is a "party for everyone." It also claims to be the "Most Progressive Political Party" and asks people to reject "bullshit" and "dirty" politics. Thus far, Choudhary is the only face to be seen from the party. However, on its website, the party asks people to register, volunteer, and donate.
'Stillness in our fast-moving world means going back'
Choudhary says, "We cannot afford the status quo, because stillness in the fast-moving world today means going back. " Currently, Bihar is being ruled by BJP-JD(U)-LJP alliance with Nitish Kumar as the CM. Bihar will go to polls later this year.
